entry #157

Dear crazy hormones,

Thank you for only visiting me once thus far. Let's not
do that again. Good thing I have a husband that can
talk me off the crazy ledge and to think normal again.
(i was beginning to curse my choice of having an all
natural homebirth because at this point, with an OB, I'd
be induced and finally holding my precious baby. Oh,
and I was convinced that God wasn't listening to me
and didn't understand my urgency in being done)
All is well now!
Unless I'm still pregnant for Thanksgiving....

Dear Amy,

Thank you for watching our kids on Friday night
so we could go out and finish shopping for the baby.
Our kids love you and we really appreciate it!

Dear Lord,

Thank you for speaking louder then my
emotions. In the midst of the crazy I always
feel that I have two options. To give in or
to trust You. Thankfully I've been trusting
You the majority of the time. It's making the
end of this pregnancy more bearable for me
and my family. They thank You too!

Dear Children,

Thank you for keeping us laughing all weekend
long. I had so much fun on our walk and hanging
out with you guys. You're pretty cool kids!

Dear Husband,

Thank you for being so loving when I'm not so loving.
Thank you for being willing to go out and get all my
crazy strong cravings at any hour.
You're a great husband.
Oh, and the yard looks wonderful. Thank you!

entry #156

Dear Husband,

Thank you for holding me last night while I cried in pain.
You are a great comfort. Even when you laugh at me when
I'm laughing/crying at myself because of my humorous
maneuvers to stop the pain. I know we'll make the most
interesting team during labor.
(be prepared brande and malory,
it's gonna be funny. it's ok to laugh)

Thank you for the last 7 years. We have learned
so much from eachother and we have a deeper love
for eachother then I could have ever imagined.

It was sweet to think back to that night of card playing,
chaperoned by your brother, that we decided to
start dating. You asked me when and I wrote down the date
on a piece of paper and handed it to you that night. I was
ready to date you and get smothered by unfamiliar love.
So glad I did even though it was a little strange
at first because I'd known you for so long. I just never
would have guessed that you were 'the one' all those years!

Life is pretty great right now. We're about to
have our 3rd child and we're homeowners now. Imagine that.
And we have 5 and a half years of marriage under our belts.
I'm pretty stoked to see what's in store for us.
I love you and I mean every bit of what
loving you entails.
(minus your snoring, slouthlyness , and eating noises)

Dear Children,

Thank you for being our's and for gracing our lives.
We are better people because of you. You are such huge
blessings that I couldn't imagine not
having had you. Life would be pretty dull. I love you!

Dear heartburn pills,

Thank you for getting me through the past couple
months and ecspecially the past couple of weeks
that have been rough. Soon we will part our ways.
You served me well. I will not chew another
terrible tums.

Dear National City,

Thank you for rewarding us with the points system.
It's great when you forget you have them for almost a
year to discover that you can get 50$ in target giftcards.
They will be well spent tonight as we venture out
to pick up some last minute things
for baby. Every little bit helps!

Dear God regarding my body,

Thank you for carrying me through my life thus
far and for giving me 2 healthy babies. I am trusting in my body
and YOU to know what you're doing with this 3rd
one. I am getting a bit stretched for my taste
and I am nervous about the size of the shoulders I can feel in
my pelvis but I trust you know what you're doing. I
am surprisingly calm and at peace.
(except when a little head feels like a knife jabbing it's way out
at unexpected times)
During the nights of complete discomfort and agony
I cry out and find peace in YOU and that
all will be taken care of. Thank you.

entry #139

Dear Family,

Thank you for so lovingly eating the crap I've been making for
dinner for the past week or so. I'm glad that you've 'enjoyed' it.

Dear Father-in-law Steve,

Thank you for donating to the youth of our church for baby-
sitting night on behalf of us and in hopes of giving us a date night.
We can't wait and are planning on a lovely dinner with some
friends from out of town. Looking forward to intelligent
conversations (minus what comes out of my mouth) and not
having to fight with little people to eat their food. The youth
can deal with that for Saturday night :)

Dear Liam,

Thanks for letting me hold you this morning while looking
out the window. You warm my heart with your words.
You are trying so hard to learn and you're
doing so well. I'm just not quite sure what you mean
when you are yelling and crying and throwing yourself
on the ground over something you may or may not
want to eat that I may or may not have. This morning
it was over bananas (i think) that I didn't have then after
agreeing on a bowl of cereal (with milk) you stole my
applesauce. (what i really wanted and now is gone)
That's how much I love you. Remember that.

Dear Olivia,

Thank you for your concert last night. You make a wonderful
rock star. You're going to go far. Well, maybe not too far since
you won't be dressing or acting like a skank. But we're your
biggest fans and have tons of faith in you as a conservative
rock star that will be dressed in turtle neck sweaters and
long pants. You might not have much to sing about though
as we will be keeping you within arms reach at all times and
possibly locked in your room till you're 30. (just kidding... kinda)

Dear Couch,

Thank you for being a source of comfort for the past 2 weeks
but I feel that it's time we parted ways. You are pushing the
baby farther and farther into my ribs as I sleep. However,
you are conveniently located next to the bathroom but I miss
my husband and I'm starting to miss sleep again. But if my
bed fails me again, I'll return into your waiting cushions.

entry #135

Dear Abram,

I'm so glad that you have finally arrived. You are so
adorable and your mommy and daddy and about
100 other people love you so much! Welcome to
this 'whole new world'.

(a little inside humor)

Dear Life,

You are so precious and should never be taken for
granted. I'm sorry that you are and wasted or
tossed aside. Every life (saved or not) is precious
to our Father and we should not forget that.

Dear quiet moments with great people in great conversation,

You are few and far between but I cherish them.
It's wonderful to get to know people you already
know even better by sharing from the heart.

Dear Faye,

Holding little Abram made me so excited to hold you!
I must admit though, the 6 weeks I have left seems
so surreal! Now I'm just full of curiosity as to when
and how you'll come. I'm believing in a wonderful
labor and delivery and focusing on getting the
experience I'm believing for. God is good! But I do know
that no matter the outcome, I'll have you and that's
what is important! Mommy loves you! Enjoy the little
time you have left in there! I can tell you're feeling
crowded though. Sorry about that. Mommy doesn't
get very big for swimming room.

Dear Amy and Dustin and Olivia,

Happy birthday to Amy and Dustin (yesterday) and
happy half birthday to our Olivia! Oh and a
big happy birthday to baby Abram! I'm so glad
that you've all graced my life with your presence.

entry #132

Dear Husband,

Thank you for making my computer faster even if you did disable
the track pads abilities somehow for scrolling. I'll manage.
Also, thank you for putting up with me making you do things
on the weekends. I'm hoping after a few more years of this
that you'll just take over on your own! ;)

Dear Faye,

Now that I know that you are the one in there I am
so very excited to meet you. My anxiety is gone and
in it's place is pure excitement and anticipation. We
are all excited to meet you. Your big sister can't stop
talking about you. She's so excited that God answered
her wish. She's planning out all that you can do together.
We love you and will meet you in less then 2 months!

Dear Olivia,

Thank you for loving what I make for you and for
wearing it all the time. I'll soak that up. I'm sure you
won't love to sport anything your mom makes you when
you're a teenager.

Dear Stormy night,

Thank you for the peace you brought as I fell asleep.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for renewing of mind and spirit. Thank you
for the me that is me today and not me a couple of years
ago. Being at peace daily is a wonderfully freeing experience
that I know will not dwindle soon.

entry #130

Dear knitting-in-the-round,

Thank you for actually working for me! I completed a little
hat for Liam. Well, it's a little big but it's all good. Now i'm
working on a little scarf and mittens to match.

Dear countdown till baby comes,

Today you are at 60 days. I can handle that.

Dear Olivia,

Thank you for cleaning your room yet again for the 2nd
week in a row! You have no idea how relieved I am. One
less thing I have to do while being pregnant and after baby
comes. Now if I could only teach you how to do all my chores...

Dear custom license plate I ordered for my hubby,

Thank you for being the one I liked and not one of the other
3 I came up with on the spot. The extra 100$ (give or take)
was totally worth the look on his face.
He's never had plates of his own.
Poor deprived little boy...

Dear Husband,

Thank you for helping me fix the ottoman last night. I
appreciate it. Maybe we'll get lucky and all the tufts will
stay tuft(ed). Oh and thanks for rubbing my back
whenever I need it for as long as it takes to relieve pain.
You're pretty awesome like that!

entry #120

Dear Husband,

Thank you for cleaning up the floor after I puked all over in the
middle of the night and for cuddling our daughter all night
because she wasn't feeling well and had
a nightmare. You are a pretty great guy!

Dear Kids,

Thank you for dancing together this morning when you
didn't know I was watching. It was very sweet and warmed
my heart. You guys could have more 5min. moments
like that.... Like ALL the time would be great. :)

Dear Pie,

Thank you for smelling so so great right now
baking in my oven...

Dear Ingrid Michaelson,

Thank you for making yet another fantastic album...
Can't wait to learn all the lyrics and sing along.

Dear creators of Chuck,

Thank you for creating such a great show. I finally got
caught up and I have to say, you do not disappoint!
I'm excited for the new season!!!

entry #118

Dear Weather,

Thank you for being so beautiful. I want the a/c's out
of the windows so that I can just enjoy you.
Husband says we should wait another week or so.
He might be right.

Dear Cinnamon Vanilla candles,
Thank you for filling my house with a fall aroma. It's lovely.

Dear Blog world,
Thank you for being full of inspiration I wouldn't get elsewhere.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the peacefulness that has become me.
Thank you for transforming my thought patterns and
my heart. Thank you for for not being done with me.

Dear Christy,
Thank you for a great message yesterday. As I ponder
it today, it's exactly what I needed to hear to help me
re-focus and come back to that place of knowing the truth.
I look forward to your tuesday nights!

entry #117 + some sneak peeks....

sneak peeks first...

we're gonna make a house blog soon.

Dear Grandma and Grandpa,
Thankyou for making such a beautiful hutch so many
years ago that I am now going to use in my home.

Dear Dad,
Thank you for bringing the hutch over today.

Dear father-in-law,
Thank you for installing lights and fans in our home.

Dear man at BigLots,
Thank you for tipping us on the sale that is in a week on
mattresses so that we'll save $100.00.
We like saving money.

Dear pumpkin processing company,
Thank you for smelling so good today.
It got me excited for fall.
25 days till the pumpkin festival!

entry #116

Dear Heart,
Thank you for beating and for keeping me alive. Please stop palpitating sooo much.

Dear Son,
Please communicate better somehow and explain to me why you throw away perfectly
good food. I love you but you can stop that anytime.

Dear Kitchen,
Thank you for finally being done being painted. You look lovely. Now to add accessories.

Dear unpregnant go-get 'em me,
Please shine through these next few weeks of transitioning into fall and routine and homeschooling.
I look forward to being you again. Cause you're awesome.

Dear Husband,
Thank you for cleaning up whatever that nasty nasty left over drink was in our son's sippy
that spilled out in the back of our suv. It smelled bad. You're my hero.

entry #115

Dear second-attempt light bulbs,

Thank you for working and for being cheaper then attempt number one.

Dear Husband,

Thank you for staying up with me and painting last night.
Thank you for not making bigger messes then me.
You're getting better! And thank you
for cleaning up my messes. I love you.

Dear Baby,

We are 7 months today. Only 12 weeks till I meet you. I can't wait! I love you.

Dear House,

You are coming together. You will be beautiful!
Do me a favor though... PAINT YOURSELF!!!
Better yet go back in time and stop the previous
owner (flipper) from painting such a horrid color on
ALL the trim.
Smoker-yellow is not a color!!!

Dear Daughter,

Thank you for making me laugh over how much you're
like your daddy. But you really don't need to be
just like him. Please. I might go crazy!

entry #114

Dear Husband,

Thank you for using that very strong latex paint remover
on our carpet and on the decorative glass above our windows
even though you burned your hand before fully reading the
instructions that said to wear gloves.

Dear oatmeal cookies i made last night,

Thank you for turning out right and not burning and being
sooooo yummy and taking care of my craving.

Dear Snapple,

Thank you for making strawberry-kiwi juice.

Dear blood removal and shot in my booty yesterday,

Thank you for not being as bad as i made you out to be
in my head. it's been a while and i really over-thought it.

Dear Sleep,

Please find me again.

Dear allergies,

Go away!

Dear kids,

thanks for being so awesome but please don't
drive me too crazy today. i'm exhausted.

when freckles collide...

i love love love this painting...


and want to win it....